Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has been a force to reckoned with during his three-year career in Tampa Bay. The problem is, that force hasn’t been available nearly half the time he’s been on the roster.
It’s pretty simple with Kancey and the Buccaneers. When he’s in the lineup they win. But the amount of games he’s played in hasn’t been enough to feel easy about his long-term future with the organization. As of April 20 Tampa Bay had not picked up Kancey’s fifth-year option for 2027. The team has until May 1 to do so and Pewter Report has learned that Tampa Bay is expected to do so.
That’s what makes this a huge year for Kancey. Two seasons ago, the Pittsburgh product led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks in just 12 games. He’s been great for Tampa Bay, but that fact that the most he’s played in a season was 14 as a rookie, it makes it tough for the team to fully commit to him with a long-term contract extension right now.
Caljiah Kancey Reveals His One Goal For The Season
That’s also why going into this season, Calijah Kancey legitimately has one goal, and it’ll benefit the Buccaneers – and him – in a huge way.
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
“My main goal is to play every game,” Kancey said on Monday. “That’s my main goal. There’s nothing – there’s no stats, no nothing. Just play every game. Just be ready to play every game.”
The Bucs were undefeated with a 3-0 record last season when Kancey played. He tore his pectoral muscle halfway through the second game of the season in Houston and returned for the season finale where the Buccaneers defeated the Panthers, but failed to reach the postseason. He had one tackle that ended up being a tackle for loss. He mentioned that he was feeling really good up until the surprise injury.
“Honestly before the injury, I just knew I was about to hoop (play great),” Kancey said. “That’s all I can say. I knew I was about to hoop, but hey, everybody’s time is different.”
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Cliff Welch/PR
Calijah Kancey Wants To Be There For His Bucs Teammates
Struggles were abundant on the Buccaneers defense all season long and all different levels. Not having a top player like Calijah Kancey took a toll on the unit, especially the pass rush as the team notched just 37 sacks – the lowest in the Todd Bowles era in Tampa Bay since 2019. Now Kancey is looking to right that wrong. It’s not just for his own good, though, he wants to be there for his teammates and prove he’s all about winning.
Kancey spoke a lot about his love of the game when he met with the media on Monday as the team’s offseason program began. He’s been playing football since he was a kid and all he wants to do is continue playing the game he loves. His passion for football is definitely there and he’s going to lay it on the line for his teammates. Hopefully his body can hold up because the Bucs are a different – and better – team when is playing next to Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby.
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Football is all I know,” Kancey said. “It’s all I’ve been taught. I’ve been playing football since I was four years old, so whether its an injury or if I can return or I can’t, I’m going to do whatever I can to try and get back on the field. That was my whole goal, just being able to put on my helmet, go out there and ball with my brothers, whether we got the win or not, I just wanted to show them, man, I’m here for y’all. I eat, sleep [football] – everything. Football lives through me. That was just me showing my love for them and how much they mean to me. That’s what it was about.”
Pewter Report recapped the press conferences of Kancey, center Graham Barton and safety Tykee Smith on Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. Click the link to watch it and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.